How to Distinguish Abnormal Vaginal Spotting Between Periods?

Spotting between periods scares girls and women for good reason because in most cases such bleeding indicates gynecological diseases, infection or pathology in the body. However, if you found blood stains in your underwear when your periods are still far away from appearing, it may simply be a consequence of stress or nerve strain.

You have to see a gynecologist to determine the actual cause of your vaginal discharge. You should not resort to self-diagnosis. However, that does not mean that not being aware of gynecological diseases with similar symptoms is better than being aware of the causes and consequences of various illnesses.

Statistics shows that spotting between periods occurs in 30% of women. Specialists claim: in many cases it’s not a dangerous phenomenon. It’s caused by hormonal fluctuations, associated with the beginning of ovulation.

What is Normal Spotting during Ovulation?

Generally little amount of bleeding (spotting)

The duration doesn’t exceed 72 hours

Mucous consistence of spotting is of poppy red, pinkish or brown color

There’s no need to use hygiene products

Examination doesn’t determine any other causes of bleeding from the organs of the reproductive tract.

Normal spotting between periods usually occurs on the 10-16th day, counting from the 1st day of the last menstruation, i.e. from the beginning of your period. It should look like slightly visible mucous discharge with blood streaks that can keep excreting from 12 hours to 3 days.

However, often unexpected bleeding from the organs of the reproductive tract, even insignificant in quantity, may serve a sign of gynecological diseases. That’s why if normal spotting between periods is getting more intensive and doesn’t stop after 3 days at most, you must contact a gynecologist immediately. The doctor will have to stop the bleeding and make the necessary examination. Besides, even if such spotting stopped by itself, you must see a gynecologist and have a scan of the organs in the pelvic area. Such spotting is often the only symptom revealing hidden gynecological disease.

What Causes Normal Spotting Between Periods?

There can be plenty of explanations why you have this normal spotting. That may mean you are too sensitive to ovulation, or have lived through stress, an avia flight or changed climate. If this is an isolated case, it may also mean conception. Yes, intrusion of a spermatozoon into the uterine cavity may also cause spotting.

However, the most frequent cause of uterine bleeding between periods in healthy women is unexpected sharp fluctuations of estrogen level in the organism. During the ovulation the level of this hormone rises quickly. As it impacts the lining of the uterus, a woman may get this symptom. So, bloody vaginal discharge during or right after the ovulation is considered to be a physiological norm, if a medical exam doesn’t reveal any other alarming symptoms. However, such spotting requires medicamental correction. To treat and prevent hormonal surges, a woman is usually advised to avoid stresses and prescribed medicines on the basis of natural ingredients of vegetable origin.

Other causes may include:

Presence of intrauterine spiral

Usage of hormonal contraception

Taking some other medications, influencing your period

Undergoing gynecological procedures, like cervical cauterization

Often brown spotting and sometimes even bleeding occurs when a woman takes oral contraceptives. In this occasion it’s usually recommended to wait for 2-3 months to see if it’s an individual reaction of your organism to the birth control pills. In this occasion often the situation stabilizes itself and the spotting stops. In other cases a doctor may suggest you to opt for another kind of contraceptives. For example, a breast-feeding woman whose baby is already 6-7 months old, may start taking combined pills, containing estrogen instead of mini-pills which often cause spotting before and in the middle of the menstrual cycle. If a woman has been already taking combined pills, she may need to opt for pills, containing more estrogen – 30 mkg instead of 20 mkg.

A the same time spotting between periods is considered to be one of the brightest symptoms of many gynecological diseases. If brown, pink or reddish-brown discharge appears on your underwear in the middle of your menstrual cycle, it may quite possibly indicate the development of some disease. Brown spotting between periods, for example, may be a sign of progesterone insufficiency or polycystic ovary syndrome which are conditions, causing infertility and requiring urgent treatment.

Spotting Between Periods that Requires Urgent Medical Attention

As you see, there is quite an array of conditions, causing spotting between periods. Having noticed such spotting on underwear, many women start worrying, as they haven’t experienced that before. This article may have answered some of your questions but remember that only a gynecologist can diagnose your condition and prescribe treatment, if necessary.